During a recent visit to the facilities of SAT Bonnysa in Tenerife, the largest producer of papaya in the archipelago, the regional Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, Narvay Quintero, stressed the importance of the European market for the Canary Islands' tropical and subtropical fruits. The product from the Canary Islands has several key competitive advantages over the South American product. The Canary Islands can offer a fresher product, organoleptic qualities derived from a longer ripening on the plant due to its proximity to the sales market, stricter quality controls, and traceability.
SAT Bonnysa has 360 employees in Tenerife, where it's been replacing its tomato crops with papaya, banana, cucumber, pitahaya, and blueberry crops. The company has become a major supplier of tropical fruits with a production of 6.8 million kilos of papaya, 80% of which is exported to Europe. In addition, its banana production, which reaches 9.2 million kilos a year, has been recognized with the "Flavor of the Year" award for its quality and flavor.
The visit included a tour of the papaya and banana farms and the packaging facilities. It highlighted the sustainability and efficiency of SAT Bonnysa's operations. The company has greenhouses equipped with efficient irrigation systems and a desalination plant contributing to its sustainable and high-quality production.
Source: gmrcanarias.com